1
2
as in chooses
to decide upon (the time or date for an event) usually from a position of authority
set a date for the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in values
to make an approximate or tentative judgment regarding
fire losses were set at a million dollars
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
5
as in aims
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
determined to see the West, she set her car towards the sun and drove off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in decides
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
finally set some plans for the luncheon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in secures
to put securely in place or in a desired position
had the jeweler set the diamond again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in gels
to turn from a liquid into a substance resembling jelly
the gelatin is just starting to set now
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
9
as in puts
to arrange something in a certain spot or position
set a book on the table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in freezes
to become physically firm or solid
the concrete must set completely before anyone can walk on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in factions
a group of people acting together within a larger group
the younger set is less likely to volunteer for the church's annual rummage sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in packs
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
they rarely associate with anyone outside their social set
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in clusters
a number of things considered as a unit
a set of tools
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in types
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic
the next set of job applicants had far more education and practical experience
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in decors
the array of painted backgrounds and furnishings used to establish the setting in a stage production
built sets for the play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of sets
Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The department’s demand sets a dangerous precedent and could expose millions of Americans to fraud, abuse and other nefarious activity.
—Barbara McQuade, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
What sets the castle apart from other viewpoints and landmarks?
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals sets an NBA record for career points in a 135-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Talented executives too often accept CEO roles without fully interrogating whether the context—not just the title—sets them up to succeed, leading to costly failures for both leaders and organizations.
—Jason Baumgarten, Harvard Business Review, 12 Jan. 2026
But why not envision the potential beneficiary of a charitable donation, whom Clayton readily sets aside?
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Wide receiver Keon Coleman, who apparently doesn’t know how to use the app that sets alarms, has been benched by McDermott for three games and for the first series of another game.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Don’t be afraid to praise good work — doing so sets a tone that turns routine collaboration into something people enjoy.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Loungewear sets take the effort out of having to decide what to wear for the day since everything already looks good together—because who really wants to spend precious time picking out an outfit?
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
But the majority of my suitcase was filled with far more practical—but equally as cool—pieces, like flattering Old Navy leggings, cozy Abercrombie sweaters, chic Bleusalt sets, and Ugg platform boots.
—Bella Gerard, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Threshold has plenty more sheet sets worth adding to your Target cart—and your bed—this season.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
Nor are they provided with their own sets of keys to access infirmaries, clinics, housing units and psych wards.
—Mary Buser, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
The importance of the backlot sets, sound stages, and even the rapidly depreciating film libraries is overstated.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
The Heat now will have 17 such sets, one more than any other team.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
And everyone is forced to compete with pure digital players like Amazon, Netflix and YouTube, who are amassing their own sets of sports rights.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Like fashion pieces, each person carries a unique combination of taste, personality, and lifestyle that sets them apart from others.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Jan. 2026
The department’s demand sets a dangerous precedent and could expose millions of Americans to fraud, abuse and other nefarious activity.
—Barbara McQuade, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
What sets the castle apart from other viewpoints and landmarks?
—Alia Akkam, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2026
Dolph Schayes of the Syracuse Nationals sets an NBA record for career points in a 135-109 victory over the Detroit Pistons.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Talented executives too often accept CEO roles without fully interrogating whether the context—not just the title—sets them up to succeed, leading to costly failures for both leaders and organizations.
—Jason Baumgarten, Harvard Business Review, 12 Jan. 2026
But why not envision the potential beneficiary of a charitable donation, whom Clayton readily sets aside?
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Wide receiver Keon Coleman, who apparently doesn’t know how to use the app that sets alarms, has been benched by McDermott for three games and for the first series of another game.
—Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Don’t be afraid to praise good work — doing so sets a tone that turns routine collaboration into something people enjoy.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
The cemetery has been thrust into the spotlight after a Lancaster County man was accused of harvesting sets of human remains in the middle of the night, hoarding skulls, bones, and corpses, and then offering some of them for sale on his social media accounts.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
Loungewear sets take the effort out of having to decide what to wear for the day since everything already looks good together—because who really wants to spend precious time picking out an outfit?
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 13 Jan. 2026
But the majority of my suitcase was filled with far more practical—but equally as cool—pieces, like flattering Old Navy leggings, cozy Abercrombie sweaters, chic Bleusalt sets, and Ugg platform boots.
—Bella Gerard, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Threshold has plenty more sheet sets worth adding to your Target cart—and your bed—this season.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Jan. 2026
Nor are they provided with their own sets of keys to access infirmaries, clinics, housing units and psych wards.
—Mary Buser, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2026
The importance of the backlot sets, sound stages, and even the rapidly depreciating film libraries is overstated.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
The Heat now will have 17 such sets, one more than any other team.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
And everyone is forced to compete with pure digital players like Amazon, Netflix and YouTube, who are amassing their own sets of sports rights.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sets
Verb
-
By then, showrunner-auteur Lear had parlayed the All in the Family base camp into a virtual multiverse of spin-offs (Maude, The Jeffersons) and spawns (Sanford and Son).—
Thomas Doherty,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Dec. 2025
-
What sets the game apart is its AI engine, which spawns countless non-player characters (NPCs) with unique storylines and characteristics.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
No one who works at the Academy chooses the categories.—
Paul Grein,
Billboard,
20 Jan. 2026
-
With the tension finally diffused, Ainsley reconsiders her decision and chooses to give dorm life another shot.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meta’s new performance review platform Meta is joining the likes of Amazon and X in debuting a new performance review platform that values employee output over effort, according to internal documents obtained by Business Insider.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The problem with shopping Dosunmu is that no other team values him as highly as the Bulls do.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Per its Sotheby's auction listing, scrolls of diamonds are interrupted by sparkling floral motifs, while a romantic heart emblem sits at the center.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The city, which sits just north of Indianapolis, was ranked the best place to live in the Midwest, according to a report from Livability, which focuses on small-to-medium sized cities.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And while grand villas are nothing new in Las Vegas, service is where Caesars aims to separate itself.—
David Morris,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Jan. 2026
-
SpaceX's recovery crews typically aims to collect the Dragon capsule and extract its crew within an hour or so of splashdown.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
And while Elliott would like to see Nielsen as the next CEO, if the board decides on someone else who is equally qualified, Elliott will support that decision.—
Kenneth Squire,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Georgia grows tired of her husband and their nightly trips to the fancy French restaurant and decides to have an affair with another man at another table (Alan Howard).—
Diane J. Cho,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On college football’s biggest stage, Cignetti secures his place as the sport’s biggest star on the sidelines.—
Keven Lerner,
Sun Sentinel,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Japan has launched a month-long deep-sea mission aimed at unlocking a new domestic source of rare earth elements, a move that could reshape how the country secures critical minerals used in electric vehicles, electronics, and defense systems.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The driver then puts vehicle in drive, dragging officer about 100 yards with his arm inside the car.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Tonga has missed the past three games, which puts his availability for Sunday’s Wild Card showdown with the Chargers in significant doubt.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sets.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sets. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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